Hi all,
First of three days of racing this weekend. Inside today’s main piece I have selections from Newbury, Hamilton and Newmarket.
It’s the first of two days of racing at Newbury. The Listed Rose Bowl Stakes (4:10) is the highlight of a seven race card at the Berkshire track.
The Listed BoyleSports Handicap Chase (3:40) is the highlight of the final day of action at Killarney’s July Festival.
The Scottish Stewards’ Cup (7:05) and the Listed British Stallions EBF Glasgow Stakes (7:45) are the feature races on a valuable evening card at Hamilton. Add in meetings at the likes of Newmarket, Pontefract & Haydock and punters have plenty of betting opportunities.
I have previewed the two most valuable races on Friday for Daily Punt readers. If you haven’t read them, you can find them below.
Newbury
The ground has dried at Newbury to good and apart from an isolated shower or two it shouldn’t be worse than that on Friday.
4:45 – Rose Bowl Stakes (Listed Race) – 6f
Asadna could only finish 9th of 20 in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. Prior to that the colt had got the time/sectional aficionados purring after his racecourse debut success at Ripon. He’s set for his first start since switching to the Alice Haynes yard and looks a worthy enough favourite.
His biggest rivals for me look to be Shagraan and Dapper Valley. The former stepped up on his racecourse debut when winning a Windsor novice 20 days ago. There’s more to come from him and he’s a big contender from a yard who saddled the winner of this race in 2021.
Dapper Valley impressed me when winning a maiden here (5f) on racecourse debut in April. His 9th of 10 in the Listed National Stakes can be excused as his rein broke soon after the start. He remains with potential and shouldn’t be far away.
Palmer Bay, from the inform Ralph Beckett yard, and Markakol are two last time out winners worth considering.
Verdict: Asadna could easily return to winning ways in the Rose Bowl Stakes but around 2/1 I want to take him on. Of his rivals I like Shagraan and Dapper Valley the most. You can put a line through Dapper Valley’s last run, and he had looked a nice prospect when winning here on debut. The 11/1 available with Coral & Ladbrokes is very tempting but I wouldn’t put anyone off Shagraan who could be worth a saver.
Hamilton
It was described as good to soft at Hamilton on Thursday afternoon, but a mostly dry 24 hours is being forecast so it could be closer to good come the start of Friday’s evening card.
7:05 – Scottish Stewards’ Cup Handicap (Class 2) – 6f
A competitive renewal with 13 declared to meet the starter. The early bird betting sees Illusionist head the betting. Now 2lb below his last winning mark and ran a seasonal best when a 1 ½ length 4th of 16 at Ayr 4 days ago. On a handy mark and Christian Howarth takes off a useful 5lb. drying ground wouldn’t be ideal, but he’s respected.
Khunan was a useful juvenile finishing runner up in a Group 2 at Goodwood in July 2021. The 5-year-old was back to something like his best when a ½-length 2nd of 10 at Haydock 15-days ago. The front two pulled clear of the third so the form is probably solid. A 4lb rise isn’t harsh but he hasn’t won since April 2021 and a career record of 1 win from 19 starts isn’t great.
Autumn Festival thrived last season winning seven times during a tremendous 2022. Ended last season with a four timer all at around 7f. A bit hit and miss this season, but the 4-year-old was back to form when ¾-length 2nd of 5 at Musselburgh 16 days ago. Drops back to 6f for only the second time in his career is an interesting one with trainer David O’Meara having his horses in excellent form.
Chairmanoftheboard is on a losing run that dates back to October 2021. He’s not the easiest to win with but often runs his race in big field sprint handicaps including two placed efforts at Newamrket in the spring. Hasn’t been in the same form on his last two starts so needs to bounce back but could do so and is on a competitive mark.
7:40 – British EBF 40th Anniversary Glasgow Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m 3f
The most valuable race either side of the Irish Sea today with £31,332 on offer to the winner. Five have been declared for this year’s race and on the face of it a disappointing turnout for such a valuable prize. However, there were four runners last year and the average field size since 2008 is six.
You can make a case for four of the five runners.
The early bird betting is headed by the Simon & Ed Crisford trained Chesspiece. The 3-year-old won a handicap (1m 4f) at York’s Dante Meeting before finishing a 5 ¼ length 3rd of 14 to Gregory in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase (1m 6f) at Royal Ascot last time. Slower ground should suit and the drop in trip shouldn’t inconvenience the colt.
Circle Of Fire was one place and 1 ¼ lengths behind Chesspiece in the Queen’s Vase. He’s another who should be suited by the drop back in trip and should go well for the inform Sir Michael Stoute yard.
Salt Bay wasthird in a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud on just his second juvenile start last October. However, he was a bitterly disappointing last of 7 on his seasonal reappearance at Newmarket 77 days ago. He’s surely better than he was able to show last time and would be a big threat if bouncing back to his juvenile best.
Sea Of Roses finished runner-up in a Group 3 at Saint-Cloud on her seasonal return. But the filly never figured in the Musidora and Oaks on her next two starts. A bit better last time when a 5 ¼ length 5th of 17 to Warm Heart in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. The slight drop back in trip and ease in grade can see her figure.
Pontefract
7:50 – Elegant Erin won four times in a productive 2022 and has caught on the eye on both her starts this season including when a 1 ¾ length 5th of 18 at York 7 days ago. Doing her best work at the finish last time this previous C&D winner is at her best over a stiff 5f. Trainer struggling for winners, but several have gone close this week and she shouldn’t be far away. Copper Knight won that York handicap. He’s got a 4lb penalty to carry for that success which shouldn’t stop him if in the same form, but the 9-year-old hasn’t been the most consistent of horses in recent seasons.
Rocket Rodney was a speedy juvenile last season and was back to form when a 2 length 2nd of 8 to Rogue Lightning at Doncaster 15-days ago. Should make his presence but will want the ground to continue to dry out to win this.
Newmarket
There’s a couple of interesting enough handicaps on this evening’s card.
7:30 – Royal Symbol a winner on juvenile debut at Kempton in December 2021 was off the track for 517 days before finishing an 8 ½ length 4th of 6 to Artistic Star at Sandown 66 days ago. Tongue tie applied for handicap debut and the top weight looks competitively handicapped albeit vulnerable to any progressive 3-year-olds.
Ziryab won at the third attempt when successful in a Leicester maiden last month before being too keen when a 7½ length 5th of 15 to Burdett Road in Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot last time. Drops back in class here and likely remains capable of better.
Therapist got off the mark at the sixth attempt when winning over C&D on handicap debut 20 days ago. That was an improved performance from the 3-year-old and although she’s up a couple of notches in class today a 4lb rise looks workable.
8:05 – Cuban Breeze takes on a couple improving 3-year-old sprint handicappers in Star Guest and Sophia’s Starlight.
Star Guest looked suited by the drop back to 6f for the first time when making all to win a C&D handicap three weeks ago. A 10lb rise in the weights makes life difficult for the filly and she won’t get her own way out in front like last time. Sophia’s Starlight bid for the hat trick after wins over C&D and latterly Carlisle 8 days ago. Given her current vein off form a 6lb rise may not be enough to stop her.
Cuban Breeze won five times in a productive 2022. The last of those successes came at Windsor last August, off 2lb higher. She’s been running well in defeat this season but is vulnerable to any unexposed rivals.
Betting Advice:
Newbury
4:45 – Dapper Valley – 1pt win – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Shagraan – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Hamilton
7:05 – Autumn Festival – 1pt win – 14/1 @ Bet365 and Chairmanoftheboard – 1pt win – 17/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
7:40 – Sea Of Roses – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
Newmarket
7:30 – Therapist – 1pt win – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.
Cheers
John